Reinventing the Food System
A new policy agenda to tackle the global syndemic of obesity, undernutrition and climate change
3 April 2019
14:00 - 17:30
Eurostation
Brussels
Organised by the World Obesity Federation, Sciensano (Belgian Institute for Health),
iPES Food, and the European Public Health Alliance
Three of today’s most pertinent challenges to health and well-being – obesity, undernutrition and climate change – represent a global syndemic. This means three pandemics which are interconnected and require integrated solutions at local, national, European and international levels.
A new generation of policies should focus on the intersection of these three challenges and be designed to produce multiple benefits at once. But this is easier said than done: societal transition means overcoming trade-offs, competing interests and other system lock-ins.
Inspired by the recent report of the Lancet Commission on the Global Syndemic of obesity, undernutrition and climate change, this event explored how a synergistic food policy agenda can be promoted from local to European level. What are the opportunities for change – from production to consumption – during the next European Union mandate?
Programme
14:00 – 14:10 | The food system: Complex competing policy agendas
- Tamsin Rose | Moderator
14:10 – 14:45 | Cutting through complexity: Obesity, undernutrition and climate change as interconnected challenges requiring integrated solutions
- Boyd Swinburn | Professor of Population Nutrition and Global Health, University of Auckland (lead author Lancet Commission) (Video)
- Tim Lobstein | Director of Policy, World Obesity Federation (co-author Lancet Commission)
- Stefanie Vandevijvere | Senior Scientist Public Health Nutrition, Sciensano (co-author Lancet Commission)
14:45 – 15:30 | Formulating a coherent policy response: Examples of progress and trade-offs
- Olivier de Schutter | UN Committee on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights
- Josta de Hoog | Project leader Towards a Food Policy, The Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy
- Katrien Verbeke | Food Policy Coordinator, City of Ghent
16:00 – 17:30 | Reinventing policies for co-benefits: How to reduce trade-offs and increase synergies for a new food policy agenda?
- Annabelle Williams | Managing Director, Rural Investment Support for Europe (RISE) Foundation
- Fabrice DeClerck | Science Director, EAT
- Ingrid Stegeman | Programme Manager, EuroHealthNet
- Nina Renshaw | Director of Policy and Advocacy, NCD Alliance
Concluding Remarks & Networking Reception
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